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Spanish police have detained seven people in the Catalunya region in an operation against a suspected doping ring dealing in banned substances including clenbuterol and EPO, authorities announced earlier today.

Spanish police have detained seven people in the Catalunya region in an operation against a suspected doping ring dealing in banned substances including clenbuterol and EPO, authorities reported earlier today.

The operation was triggered in early December when a professional cyclist, who was not identified by name, reported having received an email offering to supply various performance-enhancing drugs, the regional interior ministry said.

A tiny amount of clenbuterol was detected in a test on Tour de France champion Alberto Contador during last year's Tour de France and the Spaniard was banned provisionally for one year before the Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) reversed the decision and exonerated him earlier this week.

"The distribution network targeted bodybuilders ... as well as other sports including athletics, cycling and triathlon," the ministry said in a statement.

Around 10,000 oral and some 2,200 injectable doses were seized in raids on five properties and the seven detainees had appeared before a judge on Friday, the statement added.

Further detentions could not be ruled out, it said.

The latest anti-doping raids in Spain follow December's so-called "Operation Greyhound" which targeted a doping ring in which world steeplechase champion Marta Dominguez was implicated.

Dominguez, who was suspended from her position as a vice president of the Spanish athletics federation (RFEA), has denied any wrongdoing.